New AWP appointment in R&D

Dr Julian Walker, consultant forensic clinical psychologist, has been appointed as permanent research and development director for AWP.

Research activity in the trust has increased significantly this year. The benefits of a research active trust include better outcomes for patients compared to trusts that don’t do research, opportunities for patients to gain access to new treatments that may take years to come to market and collaboration with local academic institutions to improve care from a robust evidence base.

Julian began his career at the Maudsley Hospital and the Institute of Psychiatry where he trained in clinical psychology and completed his PhD while working in prison, community and medium secure settings. In 2003 he moved to AWP to work on the new Fromeside medium secure project which opened in 2005. He has been a consultant forensic clinical psychologist for 10 years and works clinically within the Pathfinder personality disorder service at Fromeside.

Julian is an experienced clinician, researcher and manager with 25 publications in forensic mental health from personality disorder, to risk assessment and payment by results. He also chairs the Forensic Pathways Clinical Reference Group for the Specialist Commissioning Board at NHS England.

Julian said: “I am delighted and enthused about my appointment. It’s been a tough but productive year in R&D; we have a great staff team and a number of nationally important projects we are leading on. Thanks to the clinical staff and the R&D staff we got nearly 1,000 people into national research studies last year, our highest ever year and representing 5% of our patient population.

“We have some very good and developing links with local universities and we are excited about some of the opportunities research will lead to over the next couple of years – particularly with colleagues in Bristol Health Partners and the newly authorised West of England Academic Health Science Network.”

Medical director Dr Hayley Richards said: “I am delighted by Julian’s appointment, which has been widely welcomed by our research partners and academic partners throughout the region.”